Music in Cambridge
Cambridge is unrivalled for the quality and diversity of the musical activities that take place within it, ranging from choral, instrumental, chamber and orchestral music to folk, pop, rock and world music. Undergraduate and postgraduate students at Murray Edwards College play important and varied roles in this rich musical culture. In addition to CUMS (Cambridge University Musical Society), the Students' Union lists around 80-90 music societies which cater for a diverse range of tastes, interests and performance levels. Most of the Colleges have Chapel Choirs and student-run music societies that organise innumerable formal and informal College concerts in which students from a mixture of Colleges frequently participate.
Music at Murray Edwards
Murray Edwards Music Society
Murray Edwards Music Society seeks to support all college musicians, undergraduates, postgraduates, staff and Fellows, and give everyone an opportunity to participate in college musical life. Performances in college range from concerts in the Dome and the FDR, to relaxed events in the bar and garden.
The Murray Edwards Music Society Committee works with the College's Director of Music (Dr Chloe Valenti) to organise musical events in College. The Director of Music and the Music Society Committee deal with the publicity, book venues, buy or organise refreshments for the interval, make the programmes, set up the room and generally oversee the concert on the day. The Committee has meetings each term to discuss how the Music Society can improve and promote music in the College.
More information about Music at Murray Edwards can be found here . To be kept up to date about Music Society events, sign up to receive emails here. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in taking an active part in college music, whether as a performer or organiser, please contact the Music Society Preseident, Marianne Schofield, on ms949@cam.ac.uk.
Murray Edwards Choir
The student-run Murray Edwards Choir rehearses each Monday in the FDR from 5pm and performs regularly in college. As well as performing in the Start of Year Concert on Wednesday 10 October, the choir will have their own short concert on Friday 23 November in the FDR and will sing carols in the Dome at the Christmas Superformals. Open to music of any style, including classical, folk and a capella, this friendly and inclusive group welcomes singers of all levels who can read music.
The choir is currently looking for a pianist to accompany the choir at each rehearsal and concert, and for an Assistant Choir Director, who would be expected to take some rehearsals and help with concert administration. The Assistant Choir Director will become the new Choir Director from October 2013. For more information, contact Victoria Sawyer on vbs21@cam.ac.uk.
The Orchestra on the Hill
The Orchestra on the Hill (OOTH) is an orchestra made up of players from the 'hill colleges', including Murray Edwards. Their typical repertoire ranges from classical symphonies to film music and new commissions. In Michaelmas Term they generally perform at Churchill College, In Lent Term they perform in the Dome at Murray Edwards, and in Easter Term they perform at Fitzwilliam College. The standard is about Grade VIII and new members are always welcome. We are particularly keen to recruit strings and brass! A very friendly group with lots of socials, this is an ideal way to meet musicians in other colleges.
Music practice facilities in College
The Coach House
The Coach House, a recently-renovated building between the Kaetsu Centre and the tennis courts, is an ideal space for music practice. Two rooms on the ground floor have pianos: a Bechstein grand and a Reid-Sohn upright. The front door has a punch lock and students can ask the Porters for the access code.
The Music Room
The Music Room is located through the external double doors behind the Porters' Lodge and contains a Danemann upright and a Kawai electric upright. Students can ask the Porters for the key. This room is also used as a supervison room and for mock exams, so it may not be available at all times. Advance booking is recommended via the Events and Catering Office at events@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk.
The Steinway Piano
Pianists of Grade VIII upwards or equivalent may use the Steinway Model 'B' grand piano in the Fellows' Drawing Room. Contact the Director of Music, Dr Chloe Valenti, on cv244@cam.ac.uk, to be added to the Steinway list in the Porters' Lodge. Once you are on the list, you can ask the Porters for the keys. The FDR is primarily a Fellows' room, so you will need to vacate the room should a Fellow need to use it, but at other times you are welcome to practice there. If you wish to book a time in advance, you can do so via the Events and Catering Office at events@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk.
Music Scholarships and Awards
Murray Edwards College Music Scholarship Competition
The annual Murray Edwards College Music Scholarship Competition will take place on Friday 8 February 2013. It is open to all undergraduates and postgraduates in any subject and all intruments and styles of music are very welcome. Two scholarships of £400 each will be awarded, to be spent on instrumental/vocal tuition. The applicants will be judged on a short recital performance and a short informal interview with the judges to discuss their proposed contribution to college music. For more information, contact Dr Chloe Valenti on cv244@cam.ac.uk. Download the 2012 Music Scholarship application here. Deadline for application is 1 February.
Choral Awards
The college offers four or five Choral Awards each year, of £100 each (the standard University rate), for undergraduate and postgraduate students in any subject committed to singing in chapel choirs in Cambridge. The awards are intended to offer Murray Edwards students participating in chapel choirs the same level of support offered by colleges with a chapel choir tradition. Applicants are judged on a paper application and are asked to provide a personal statement and a supporting statement from their Choir Director. There is no audition and singers of all levels of experience are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants are expected to have joined their chosen choir by the end of Michaelmas Term and remain committed to the choir for the rest of the academic year. The 2012 Choral Award application form is available here and the deadline is 25 January. For more information, contact Dr Chloe Valenti on cv244@cam.ac.uk.
College Assistance for Students Reading Music
Students reading Music are provided with a digital piano in their own room. Additionally, students taking the Music tripos may apply for a bursary towards instrumental/vocal lessons and other course-related expenses. Application forms will be given to the music students in Lent Term. For further information, please contact the Director of Studies in Music, Dr Chloe Valenti, at cv244@cam.ac.uk.
University Instrumental Awards
The Instrumental Awards for Chamber Music scheme was set up to enable gifted players of any subject to reach a high standard of performance in chamber music. Players of the following instruments are invited to apply: Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and French horn. A Distinction at Grade VIII of the Associated Board, or other equivalent qualification, should be considered a minimum standard for application for an Instrumental Award.
Further information, including an application form and information sheet, may be found here.
Updated 10.12